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HOCKEY SPLIT: NMU, Alaska Each Settle For One
 Stories and photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Coach Grant Potulny and Josh Zinger. The Northern Michigan University hockey team beat the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, 3-2, Saturday night, after losing Friday night's battle, 2-1. SATURDAY'S GAME RECAP MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team claimed victory over Alaska Fairbanks by a 3-2 score on Saturday. The win marked the 100th for Coach Grant Potulny leading the Green and Gold. Artem Shlaine redirected a shot for the game's first goal in the first period, but UAF was able to tally their own the even it 1-1 after the 1st period. NMU controlled the 2nd, scoring twice and leading in shots 10-7. David Keefer and Josh Zinger lit the lamp in the period. Despite a late third period goal from UAF with the net empty, Northern held on for the 3-2 win and series split. The Wildcats jumped in front early on the power play, as Josh Zinger sent a slapshot from the blue line that Artem Shlaine redirected into the net. It didn't take long for the game to once again be tied as Harrison Israels lit the lamp less than a minute later on the Fairbanks power play for a 1-1 score early. The Nanooks had several good looks around the crease as the period progressed, but Beni Halasz stood tall in between the pipes with some timely stops. With 1:30 left, AJ Vanderbeck was whistled for a trip, but the Wildcats were able to reach the period's end with the score remaining 1-1. UAF led in shots on goal 11-6. After the first five-plus minutes of the period flew by, NMU went to the power play and Josh Zinger sent a wrist shot top corner for his first career goal. AJ Vanderbeck and Andre Ghantous assisted. NMU had another ensuing power play following the goal, but the penalty kill unit for the Nanooks was able to get the kill this time around. Off the faceoff, Alex Frye relayed the puck to David Keefer who lit the lamp for a 3-1 NMU lead with 3:04 left on the clock in the period. NMU trailed in shots 18-16 through 40 minutes despite the two-goal advantage. With 16:44 left, Nathan Butler got tagged for a five-minute major for boarding. NMU faced a big stretch of penalty kill. The special teams unit stood up to the task, fighting off an aggressive attack from the Nanooks to return to full strength. With the net empty, the Nanooks pulled within one with just over a minute left. Harrison Israels got his second of the night. NMU was able to withstand the final charge from UAF to hold on for the 3-2 win. Goal Summary 1st Period 5:13 - Artem Shlaine (NMU PP, 1-0) - Assisted by Josh Zinger and AJ Vanderbeck 5:50 - Harrison Israels (UAF PP, 1-1) - Assisted by Garrett Pyke and T.J. Lloyd 2nd Period 7:25 - Josh Zinger (NMU PP, 2-1) - Assisted by AJ Vanderbeck and Andre Ghantous 16:56 - David Keefer (NMU, 3-1) - Assisted by Alex Frye 3rd Period 18:53 - Harrison Israels (UAF, 2-3) - Assisted by Anton Rubtsov and Garrett Pyke FRIDAY'S GAME RECAP MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team fell short in Friday's contest to Alaska Fairbanks by a 2-1 score. After a scoreless first, UAF scored in the 2nd to take the lead into the final period. Joey Larson scored the equalizer on the power play with 6:04 to go, but the Nanooks slid one into the net a few minutes later to reclaim the lead and hold on for the victory. After the Nanooks recorded the first four shots of the game, NMU began to decorate the crease themselves and had a good look from Mikey Colella that skipped just wide of the net. As the first period seemed to breeze by, the first whistle came at 6:32 when Mikey Colella was called for boarding. NMU was able to kill off the first penalty of the night. The first period came and went without a score. The Nanooks led in shots on goal 12-6. One minute into the period, the Green and Gold were awarded their first man advantage for the game. A couple of good shots on the net were not good enough to find the net and the Nanooks returned to full strength. The Nanooks scored the game's first goal when Jonny Sorenson read and intercepted a pass and buried a shot top shelf for his fourth goal of the year. The Wildcats continued to face struggles on the power play, as two more chances came as the second period progressed, but NMU was unable to capitalize as they continued to trail by a goal. After two periods, NMU was down a goal. Shots were even 18-18. With 15:42 on the clock, Kristof Papp was whistled for a five-minute major penalty for checking from behind. With 0:43 left, UAF hooked Alex Frye in front of the net and the Wildcats got the ice to 4-on-4 before returning to full strength. In their shortened power play, the Wildcats were not able to get a shot on goal. The Green and Gold went back to the power play with 7:12 to go. In the winding seconds of the man advantage, Joey Larson went top shelf to light the lamp and tie the game. Kjellberg and Colella got the apples. A few minutes later, Matt Koethe gave the Nanooks the lead back as the puck trickled past Beni Halasz and into the net. |
